Verified depository for articles



July 9, 1963 J. G. BEEDE ETAL 3,097,038

VERIFIED DEPosIIoEY EOE ARTICLES Filed Jan. 26, 1960 r 'mi INVENToRs JEFTS G. BEEDE PETER ALBIANI wf ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,097,038 VERIFIED DEPSITRY FOR ARTICLES Jefts G. Beetle, Wellesley Hills, and Peter Albiani, Westn, Mass.; said Albiani assigner to said Beetle Filed Jan. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 4,681 12 Claims. (Cl. 346-22) This invention relates to a depository ordinarily used for depositing valuables in a container in any location desired which is protected against theft, and the principal obje-ct of the invention is to provide for a veried receipt or deposit slip to be issued or stamped upon deposition of a special new an'd improved container for the valuables, said deposit slip being provided by automatic mechanism but only after deposition has been made in such a Way that the container cannot be retrieved; the provision of mechanism as above described providing -a positive guarantee that the deposit has been .accomplished and providing that the valuables delivered cannot be recovered after a verication or a deposit slip has been issued to indicate that the deposit has been made.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a special new and improved container which is provided with a cylinder keyed for entry into a deposit mechanism or chute, lthis cylinder being keyed with, for instance, serrations, allowing the same to pass through a receiver to the chute for depositing the container, the insertion of the cylinder in the slot or chute providing a trip for a one-shot only device providing a receipt or punching a deposit slip, etc. operated by a standard timestamp or fthe like which is mounted on' the receiver and is provided with energizing mechanism to energize it upon passage of the aforesaid cylinder through the receiver either by gravity -or by some means such as a springloaded projector or the like, whereby the one making the deposit can show a verified deposit slip guaranteeing that the deposit has actually been made, thus the depositor is not capable of showing a receipt and abscondin'g or stealing the valuable contents of the bag as for instance on weekend deposits, at night, etc. Y

Other objects of the invention include the provision of means preventing abstraction of the container with the cylinder on it once it has been located in or passed through the receiver, thus preventing the use of iishlines or the like to retrieve the valuable containing bag after the one-shot deposit slip or the like has been provided.

The invention further relates -to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in -which FIG. 1 is a view in vertical section illustrating the invention land the action thereof;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the container in which valuables to be deposited are placed;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the receiver and timestamp mechanism;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate on an enlarged scale the cylinder which is applied to the container; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the cylinder and container applied to the receiver.

Many devices providing for out-of-hours or automatic deposition of packages, valuables, etc. have been proposed in the past, but the problem has always still remained that one entrusted to make the deposit may in fact not do so, say for instance on a Weekend, which allows the malefactor several hours or even days in which to abscond.

The presen-t invention obviates this diiculty and others.

Referring now to FIG. l, there is shown therein an upright member 10 `which may be taken to be the outer 3,097,038 Patented July 9, 1963 "ice wall of a building or vehicle or an inside wall of a locked apartment, room, etc. The reference numeral 12 indicates a rear Iwall and the chamber at 14 indicates the depository itself where the articles are to fall as for instance by gravity and wherein they are not capable in any way of being returned.

A door of any kind as indicated at 16 may be utilized and this may require a key or it may have a combination lock or the like. In any event, it closes an aperture at 18 which is the entrance to the depository 14.

A generally acruate baffle member is provided as shown at 20 and this is in combination with a pivoted hopper member or the like generally indicated at 22 provides for the reception of the article as in FIG. l which shows hopper 22 in upright condition in dotted lines.

This hopper essentially consists of a pair of continuous members at angles to each other as indicated at 24 and 26, these being mounted on some kind of pivot arrangeme-nt at 28. When the member 22 is moved in a clockwise direction in FIG. l, it 'will extend somewhat outwardly to the opening 1S when the door 16 is open, and in this case the receiver which is generally indicated at 30 is in position to receive the container of the valuables. When the container has been applied to this receiver as will Ibe explained below, the hopper is moved in a reverse direction until it reaches the position shown in solid lines in FIG. l wherein a guideway in the receiver is in line with a chute 32 and the container then descends as for instance by gravity or spring-loaded action through chute 32 into the depository 14 and past spring-pressed oneway only dogs which are indicated at 34, so that the packtage is not retrievable under any circumstances.

The container itself is shown in FIG. 2. This container in the present instance is shown in the form of a bag but it may be a canister, box, or any kind of enclosure. The usual containers of this kind are woven bags and the same is herein `generally indicated at 36. In the present instance, the bag is provided with a slide lfastening closure 38 which may be locked in any desired well knownI way so that the bag is not capable of being opened without a key.

There is a cylinder which is indicated at 40 and this cylinder, better shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is provided with a. flange 42 and a flange lock screw 44 (see FIG. 2) by which means the cylinder may be detachably secured to the bag in any desired manner, but it is pointed out that this cylinder is generally arranged in the axis of the bag 36, i.e., the axis of cylinder 40 is parallel with the near edge of the bag 36, but spaced therefrom by reason of the presence of the flange 42. Any identification symbol or number may be affixed to or stamped on the llange or the cylinder and these may be made to be read only from the inside of the container.

The clinder is preferably keyed as by longitudinal peripheral serrations or the like not shown for a purpose to be described, and also it is provided with tiring cam slots 48 and 50, an anti-Withdrawal rack which is indicated at 52, see also FIGS. 4 and 5. The bag may have interwoven therein (or interspersed throughout) a wire 54 which is connected to terminals 56 for a purpose to be described, terminals 56 being located on the cylinder 40.

The receiver is best shown in FIG. 3, and in general the same comprises a fixture or the like which is mounted on part 26 of the hopper in fixed relationship therewith. There is provided therein a slot at 58 and a conventional or standard timestamp mechanism or the like which may be operated by a solenoid as indicated at 60. Such a solenoid may be energized by any source of electricity and in yone part of the receiver there is provided a normally closed microswitch or the like 62 arranged in series with a similar microswitch 64 which is normally open and located in a guideway, chute or the like which is herein generally indicated at 66 and which is adapted to receive the cylinder `40 of the container.

The receiver also contains an anti-withdrawal pawl such as at 68 which is adapted to cooperate with the ratchet itself at 52 so that when the cylinder 4t) is entered into the guideway 66, it cannot be abstracted therefrom.

There is also provided the fixed tube 32 which is in turn provided with an edge slot at 69, this acting as a guide or chute through which the cylinder Will travel after it has left the receiver 3i) until it reaches a position beyond which the container may not be withdrawn due to the dogs 34, 34. The invention also comprises or may be made to include electrical terminal pickup points in the chute or the receiver which will detect a closed or a broken circuit in the event that the wire 54 in the bag is interrupted as by the bag being cut to be opened, so that such contacts which may be las indicated at 76 will cause an alarm audible, remote, or both. This broken circuit warning device could be provided in the receiver itself so as to prevent the time-stamp from operating or to cause another additional time-stamp to operate, invalidating the receipt. However, the signaling contacts may be in the chute 3,2 as shown in FIG. 1. The diagram in FIG. 1 shows the conventional alarm system using an alarm A, relay B, and normally open switch C. When the relay is energized, the switch opens, but when deenergized, the switch closes.

Alternatively, the bag can be made in a wire mesh or interwoven form, a break in which can be detected by a balanced circuit detection device, e.g. a Wheatstone bridge type of device or the like, which would show a difference, if any, between the resistance in the bag circuit and a Xed, known circuit in the receiver housing.

In the operation of the device, the depositor opens the door 16, gra-sps the hopper 22 and pulls it toward him in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1 and then inserts the cylinder 40 in the guideway 66 in the receiver 30, aligning the serrations as required and also ratchet 52 with the anti-withdrawal pawl 68 and the interrupted or relatively truncated slots 48 and 50 with the actuators of the microswitches 62 and 64. The operator then inverts his slip in slot 58.

`It will be seen that when the normally open switch 64 is contacted and closed by the solid portion of the cylinder which is indicated at 72 in FIG. 4, the actuator for the normally closed switch 62 will be allowed to drop from its FIG. 3 position, so that at this point only will the circuit to the time-stamp be closed, and thus the cylinder is forced to be in a position where it is about to ride off from the receiver prior to any possibility of receiving the stamped depository slip, and also the cylinder is prevented from being retrieved because the antiwithdrawal pawl 68 is now in operation. However, the cylinder cannot pass the receiver until the hopper 22 is returned to the FIG. 1 solid line position because the cylinder itself is stopped by the baie 20 except in the solid line position of FIG. l Where the cylinder can descend through the chute or tube 32, and only in this position is this possible.

Thus it will be seen that the objects of the invention have been carried out because the time-stamping of a receipt can only be accomplished when a deposit has been made; this time-stamp will be actuated only when the cylinder is in a position where it cannot be retrieved, even through strings should be attached to it and extended down throught the depository, as of course it is impossible for the cylinder to be retracted at any time through the guideway 66, due to pawl 68, and once the cylinder has left the guideway 66 and receiver 3, it cannot be retrieved in any way.

It will also be seen that this invention covers the deposit delivery or transfer between any persons, agencies, etc. of valuables of any kind, and this can be done out of normal business hours or during business hours when such persons are actually not conducting the business and the premises are closed either day or night. The repositories may be either in or out of the building at their place of business or at some fixed location remote from or on a vehicle, etc. The invention provides the use of veriiied deposit slips, vouchers or receipts to any person in any such delivery transfer or deposit which by such verification a positive guarantee is given that the deposit has been accomplished and that the items are delivered, and they cannot be recovered after the verification has been issued. The container of the valuables can be locked or sealed to prevent removal prior to the deposit and the invention also provides for attaching a key, slug, cylinder or other `device which will activate electrically or mechanically a stamping machine or perforating machine when the container has been deposited.

Having `thus `described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the cl-aims, but what we claim is:

1. A depository comprising a chute, a movable receiver, said receiver having a passage, a container for valuables, an element on said container, mating means on the element and `on the receiver in the passage whereby the container is keyed with respect 'to said receiver, a device yon said receiver adapted to stamp a receipt, means on said -receiver to actuate said stamping means, said 'actuating means being operated by said keyed means on `the container in a certain predetermined position only thereof, means preventing withdrawal yof the container once said keyed means has 'been entered into said receiver.

2. A depository comprising a chute, a movable rcceiver, said receiver having a passage, a container :for valuables, an element on said container, mating means on the element and on the receiver in the passage whereby the container is keyed with respect to said receiver, a device on said receiver adapted to stamp .a receipt, means `on said receiver to actuate said stamping means, said actuating means `being operated by said keyed means on the container in a certain predetermined position 'only thereof, means preventing withdrawal of the container once said keyed means has lbeen entered into said receiver, sai-d receiver being movable to align with a chute, and said container being adapted to move along `down the chute upon such alignment.

3. A depository comprising a chute, a movable receiver, said receiver having a passage, a container for valuables, an element on :said container, mating means on the element and on the receiver in the passage whereby the container is keyed with respect to said receiver, a device on `said receiver adapted to stamp `a receipt, means on said receiver to actuate said stamping means, said actuating means 'bein-g operated by lsaid keyed means Ion the container in a certain predetermined position only thereof, means preventing withdrawal of the container once said keyed means has been entered into said receiver, said receiver being movable to align with a chute, land said container being adapted to move along down the chute upon such alignment, and complementary keyed means on the chute ycooperating with said keyed means on said container.

4. A depository as recited in cla-im 3 including signal means on the chute indicating damage to the container, said signal means including a signal indicator cooperating with an undamaged container and being incapable of cooperating with a damaged container.

5. The combination of a receptacle vfor a container, said receptacle including a movable receiver, a chute for selective alignment of the receiver therewith, means on the receiver providing a veried deposit slip for a container placed in the receiver, means` preventing Withdrawal of the container from 'the receiver, said last-named means being positioned to be operative as soon as the deposit slip has been made, with ya container, mating means between said container 'and the receiver including complementary members on the container and the receiver so that the container and receiver are keyed together, said members including means operating the means providing said verified deposit slip whereby the depositar is provided with a veried deposit slip upon the application of said container to the receiver, said receiver being movable to align the keyed member with the chute, rand means at the lower end of said chute preventing Withdrawal of said container from the receptacle.

6. A depository comprising `an enclosure, an opening for the enclosure, a `baille Within the enclosure, a hopper movably mounted Within said baille, said hopper compri-sing a pair of Walls arranged at angles to each other and including the bafe as a third Wall in certain position of the Walls, said hopper being movable to be open to said enclosure opening 'to receive a container, a receiver on a Wall of the hopper, a guideway in the receiver, complementary means on lthe container and the receiver guideway so that the said container is entenable into the guide- Way in the receiver in a predetermined position only therein, means pneventing a retraction of the means on the container from said guidevvay, and Ia chute, said chute being provided with guiding means adapted to be aligned with the guideway in the receiver, and said container entering the enclosure below the 'baille by descending along said chute.

7. The subject matter of claim 6 including means preventing withdrawal of the container at any time after it has passed out of the chute.

8. The `depository of claim 6 including -a stamping means on said receiver, means Ito energize the same, means cont-rolling the energization thereof, said controlling means being actuated only -upon the passage therepast of said means on the container, at la certain predetermined position with respect thereto.

9. The combination of la safety depository receptacle for a container, said receptacle including :means providing a verified deposit slip for a container placed in the receptacle, means preventing withdrawal of the container from the receptacle, in combination with a container, mating, complementary means on the container and receptacle,

said mating means including a member on the container keyed to t a part of said receptacle, said member including means operating the means producing said veried deposit slip, whereby the depositor is provided with a verified deposit slip upon the application of said keyed member of the container to the receptacle, la chute receiving the keyed member of the container, said chute having an open end releasing the container member rand thereby the container, and barriers adjacent the open end of the chute and preventing retract-ion of the conveyor.

10. The combination of a container for valuables comprising side Walls, a wire arranged inthe side walls of the container throughout the area thereof, contact means on said container connected to the ends of ysaid wire, with a depository, electric contacts on said depository, means orienting the container with respect to the `depository so that the contacts on the container must contact the contacts on the depository, the latter contacts being connected to an alarm, means associated with the alarm to actuate it upon an unbalancing of :a circuit including the container wire, whereby if there has been Ian interruption in the electric wire in the container, the ialarm will be energized.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the depository includes a chute, the depository contacts being on the chute.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein the wire is interwoven in the container.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,632,536 Breen June 14, 1927 1,759,129 McClintock etal May 20, 1930 1,760,462 Yeo May 27, 1930 1,965,933 'Ilaisey July 10, 1934 2,353,870 Blume July 18, 1944 2,572,003 Binns Oct. 23, 1951 2,668,289 Connad et al. Feb. 9, 1954 2,936,684 Simjian May 17, 1960 

1. A DEPOSITORY COMPRISING A CHUTE, A MOVABLE RECEIVER, SAID RECEIVER HAVING A PASSAGE, A CONTAINER FOR VALUABLES, AN ELEMENT ON SAID CONTAINER, MATING MEANS ON THE ELEMENT AND ON THE RECEIVER IN THE PASSAGE WHEREBY THE CONTAINER IS KEYED WITH RESPECT TO SAID RECEIVER, A DEVICE ON SAID RECEIVER ADAPTED TO STAMP A RECEIPT, MEANS ON SAID RECEIVER TO ACTUATE SAID STAMPING MEANS, SAID ACTUATING MEANS BEING OPERATED BY SAID KEYED MEANS ON THE CONTAINER IN A CERTAIN PREDETERMINED POSITION ONLY THEREOF, MEANS PREVENTING WITHDRAWAL OF THE CONTAINER ONCE SAID KEYED MEANS HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO SAID RECEIVER. 